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This Day in History: EDSA People Power Revolution

February 25, 1986 marked a significant national event for every Filipinos – the EDSA Revolution: a peaceful cry for freedom. The People Power or EDSA Revolution was a series of non-violent demonstrations that started in 1983 with the assassination of Senator Benigno Aquino Sr. and culminated in 1986 with the overthrow of the Marcos regime.

The majority of the demonstrations happened on a long stretch of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, more commonly known as EDSA from February 22-25, 1986. It was an event that gathered all Filipinos in unity with courage and faith to restore freedom in the country.

Amidst public protest against violence and electoral fraud, then defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile and armed forces vice chief of staff Fidel Ramos withdrew their support from Marcos

The late Cardinal Jaime Sin, Archbishop of Manila, calling on the Filipinos to go to EDSA and shield Enrile and Ramos against attacks by military forces loyal to Marcos

Prayers and rosaries strengthened by faith were the only weapons that the Filipinos used to recover their freedom from Ferdinand Marcos’s iron hands.

"flower power"

The protests, fueled by the resistance and opposition from years of corrupt governance by Marcos, culminated with the departure of the dictator from Malacanang Palace to Hawaii

In the morning of February 25, 1986, Corazon Aquino took the presidential oath of office. Aquino was proclaimed as the 11th President of the Republic of the Philippines. People rejoiced over their victory proving the success of the EDSA People Power Revolution, the historic peaceful demonstration.